Month: May 2011

Over the weekend, my friend shot more photographs of my aquarium. She visits about once a month, and her fantastic images are the ones which appear on this blog. While shooting this time, she made an interesting comment. She said, “I like that you let me shoot and don’t just tell me what pictures to take.” To be completely honest, it had never occurred to me to ask for specific shots (with a couple of exceptions due to third-party requests). Not only are her images fantastic, but she shoots a wide variety of interesting things. I’ve always been so grateful

Ever get so busy you couldn’t think straight? Yeah, it’s one of those weeks. Therefore, permit me to offer today’s post of a snail in a ghillie suit. Yes, there’s a snail in there. Snipers and hunters wear “ghillie suits” for camouflage. Various materials are attached to a burlap “base” using fishing line or other transparent material. The resulting suit allows the wearer to blend in with the environment until and unless he moves. (Some days, I wish I had one myself.) The innocent clump of “sea grass” on the rock in the image above is actually a trocheus snail

(This is part of an ongoing Wednesday-Thursday series on contracts, publishing law, and the platypus.* Previous installments here and here.) A valid contract requires several elements. We’ve already looked at the offer, so today we turn to the acceptance. A valid acceptance must be intentional, unqualified, and communicated to the offeror in a timely fashion. The requisite intent, and the legal test for it, is the same as the intent to make an offer – essentially, the offeree must actually and reasonably intend to accept the offer, to be bound by the acceptance, and to enter into a contract with

This is a plate coral (Fungia sp.). It’s not an anemone, though people sometimes mistake it for one. Plate corals live in the sand, and despite their sessile appearance they do have the ability to move. (Note: ability does not always equate to desire. This one is perfectly happy to remain where it is.) Fungia expand and contract periodically, extending their tentacles when “happy” or to feed. The orange spot in the center surrounds its mouth (which opens much wider than I originally expected). I’ve seen this one catch and eat a live ghost shrimp whole. It also eats frozen

In a departure from my normal “What Happened Today” history posts, I’m trying something new: a little quiz. Which famous building was dedicated on this day in 1911? Your clues: – Located in the Northeastern United States. – The largest marble structure ever constructed in the United States. – President Taft presided over the dedication. – Cost $9 million to design and build (in 1911 dollars), most of which came from a variety of donors. – 40,000 people visited the building the day after its dedication. – The building is still in use today – and still used for its

As we discussed yesterday, a valid contract has certain characteristics, including a valid offer, acceptance and consideration. Today we’ll look at the offer. The person who makes an offer is called the “Offeror,” and the person to whom an offer is made is called a Mark an “Offeree.” The Offeree can be a single person (the usual case with a publishing contract) or a class of people (for example, if I post a reward sign offering $150 for the return of my missing platypus, Penny). A valid offer has three components: the intent to make a valid offer, certain or

I’m going to spend the next few Wednesdays (and Thursdays) discussing the elements of a contract. (Note the spiffy new blog category.) Since I’m teaching a Master’s Class on publishing contracts at the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Colorado Gold Conference in September, I thought I’d post the preliminary “What is a Contract” talks here. In writing, prologues are often a no-no, but in education it’s often considered helpful to know the basics before you proceed to advanced-special-topics. (Often. Not always. Witness the lone Mechanical Engineering course on my transcript – graduate level –  which people have asked about ever since.

Every neighborhood has a bad corner. The one where you don’t go at night. Apparently aquariums have one too. In my case, it’s the left rear corner. The tank has a large rock formation on left-hand side that stretches from the front to the back of the tank. If you look, you can see the little alley that leads up the left side between the rocks and the glass. Two caves pass through from the alley to the back – I left them intentionally, since fish and seahorses enjoy having caves to hide in. Between the rocks and the tank’s

May 16, 1703: Charles Perrault dies in Paris. Many people don’t recognize the name, but almost everyone knows his work. Perrault wrote stories based upon popular folk tales, many of which mesmerize children (and grownups) to this day. Perrault studied law and worked in academics and government. He advised Louis XIV about building the now-famous fountains at Versailles. He supported a new musical form called “Opera” and was one of its earliest proponents. At the age of 67, Perrault lost his public position and decided to spend his newly vacant hours writing a book for his children. He titled it

In March 2011, Forrest Lunsway married his long-time sweetheart, Rose Pollard. They met at a dance in the 1980s – a blind date, if the story is correct. Both had been married before (they were a widow and widower when they met). They became best friends, and even dated, but Rose didn’t want to remarry – she had loved her husband too much. Forrest persevered, however, and eventually she agreed to marry him. On his 100th birthday. After thirty years of friendship and dating (I’m guessing “courtship” is actually a better word) Forrest and Rose Lunsway are finally man and